Graphics Zone - Texture Library

XRATED BUCKS

Create Your Own Texture Library

by John Hilton, Adult NetSurprise

You need to get all the ingredients right to create a graphic that really works. One important ingredient, when appropriate, is the choice of texture. If the texture is chosen with care it can add a great deal to the overall look.

The problem is you often can't find the perfect texture for the job in hand no matter how long and how hard you search. You need to be able to find textures that were especially produced for web design and even when you do find good collections you still can't find what exactly what you want. It's a good idea then to start building up your own texture library. Digital cameras are becoming cheaper by the day and they are the perfect texture grabbing tool so why not pick up a bargain camera and start shooting!

No matter if you live in the smoke or the sticks you will be able to find plenty of interesting textures. Keep your eyes peeled for rusty metal, bricks, concrete, leaves, water, oil on water, tree barks, chrome, peeling paint, glass, cloth, reflections, flowers etc. etc. Once you start looking you'll become more and more tuned to finding useful textures and they will be textures you like and feel you can make good use of in your work.

Getting out for a walk and shooting some textures is the perfect job for all of us who are sat on our bums 18 hours a day! If you don't find some useful textures every trip don't worry you'll enjoy the excercise and it'll do you good, it's great fun too!

Below are a few example textures from my own fairly large collection.